IDEAL Lightning 3 Port USB Car Charger (Black), 5A Lightning Fast Review

Customer Ratings:

Our car has only one DC 12-volt power source, so when my wife and I are on a road trip together, we can only recharge one of our cellphones at a time using the car chargers that came from the cellphone store. But with the IDEAL 3-port car charger, we can recharge both cellphones simultaneously, which is a real benefit, since we use both phones continuously while we're driving (phone calls, GPS navigation, music, etc.). The 3-port charger provides up to 2.5 Amps to each of the three ports (a maximum total of 5.0 Amps), which is sufficient power for any mobile device currently sold in the US. The user guide indicates which ports to use for different devices one port has a fixed 2.5A and is recommended for tablets, while the other two ports provide a total of 2.5A. I tested the car charger with my Android cellphone, my wife's iPhone 4, and my Kindle Fire HD 7" during a couple of half-hour drives. I used the ports as recommended in the user guide, and all three mobile devices were recharging even while they being used. I did notice that after a while, the Kindle Fire did not always appear to be charging. I looked in the car owner's manual, which showed that the car's power port produced 12 volts/10 Amps, so I don't think the electrical source was the problem. In fairness, my wife and I were giving the cellphones a heavy workout, with several phone calls and GPS navigation.

The car charger kit is loaded with charging cables. There are three white iPhone cables, two black micro-USB cables which fit most non-iOS devices, and two black cables that I believe fit the Samsung Galaxy Note tablets. These cables are each about 40" long. There are also three black extension cables for USB cables these are each about 8" long.

Overall, I'm pleased with the 3-port charger. With the array of cables provided, this is a complete charging kit for mobile devices. It's a great accessory with any vehicle, and for older vehicles with only one auxiliary power source, it could be invaluable for keeping up to three mobile devices charged.

A product sample was provided by the manufacturer for review purposes.

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I was skeptical to order this since there weren't any reviews at that time. I took a chance on it and I am very pleased with the quality and performance of this charger. The 2.5 amp port is plenty to keep tablets charged up and running. The other 1.5 amp ports I use for my cell phone and mobile hot-spot. It held up well on my vacation drive while running everything constant for about 9 hours. I was also very happy to find out that it came with so many cables as well. The cables that were meant for Apple products are good quality and work well. The ones that are the micro usb however did not fit my Galaxy Note II. I already had cables for it so that didn't matter to me. The cables this comes with alone would cost more to purchase separately that what the whole thing cost. I think this is a great deal on this little bundle.

I would recommend this to anyone who needs a good robust charger for in the car.

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This charger is fantastic for long car trips, which I do for business often.

In this electronic age, we have to be plugged in to many things at once, and sometimes one cannot wait for the other devices to charge.

Often my husband I and also both need our phones charging at the same time or a phone and an ipod for car music.

This solves many issues---Not only do you not have to remove a cord you are using for charging from the house as I have had to do with my other chargers (they never came with the cords to the phones too in addition to the charger as this one does), but it charged at a faster rate than my other chargers.

It feels sturdy and well made and for a charger PLUS 10 different kinds of cords you can keep in your glove box so you can charge any item I can think of, it's a steal.

I was able to try out this item for unbiased feedback, manufacturer provided.

Honest reviews on IDEAL Lightning 3 Port USB Car Charger (Black), 5A Lightning Fast

Works very well. Eliminated the clutter on the console and dashboard in my vehicle. The kids no longer have to compete for the charger, and I don't have to worry about my cell phone charging when we're all in the car together.

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There are car chargers and then there are car chargers. I was really surprised when I opened the box to find an actual kit that seemed to cover all the bases in the adaptor and cord department. Usually when I check out a car charger there are no accessories to be had and I did like this innovative change. The cords of course, are generic, but appear to be of high quality. Some amount of thought went into this package deal. Keep in mind that although there are three Apple cords, there is not one for the iPhone5. You'll simply have to provide your own.

The charger is quite solidly made and the spring-loaded contacts hold it nicely when you insert it into the socket. Although it has three ports, you cannot charge three tablets or one phone and two tablets at once. I should say that Ideal recommends against doing so. My recommend would be to check out the dimensions before purchasing (listed below). The charger is definitely solid and stable, but the length may be problematic in some vehicles.

This does have "over voltage, over current, over charge, and short circuit protection." In order to prevent draining your battery, this is an on-the-go charger ... in other words, unless you want to be calling AAA, don't try to charge any devices when you are not moving that vehicle. There are a lot of things I love about this "Lightening Charger," especially the fact that it comes with all the cords and adaptors. The only thing missing was a travel pouch, but that's easily remedied by using your own. Nice charger with good quality accessories.

WHAT'S IN THE BOX:

~ 1 x USB charger

~ 3 x Apple cords (Generic/OEM) old version

~ 2 x Samsung tablet cords (Generic/OEM)

~ 2 x micro USB cords

~ 3 x charge only adaptors (AC mode charging for non Apple devices)

SPECS:

~ Input voltage: DC 12V ~ 16V (suitable for most passenger cars, not commercial trucks)

~ Output voltage: 5V

~ Output Current: 5A

~ USB ports: 3 (2.5A)

~ USB charger made in Taiwan

~ OEM cords made in China

~ Supports the iPad, iPhone (no cords supplied for the iPhone 5), iPod, Samsung / Android / HTC smartphones, Samsung / Android tablets PC, Mp3, or GPS devices

DIMENSIONS:

~ Size (LWH): 3.75 inches, 1.75 inches, 1 inches

~ Weight: 1.44 ounces

Sample provided for review.